Splendour of the Seas Sold to TUI Cruises

splendour of the seasRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has announced an agreement to sell the Splendour of the Seas to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2016. The ship will then be leased to Thomson Cruises, which will operate the vessel.

"The ship's sale is in line with our strategic objective of divesting ourselves of older hardware and keeps us firmly on the course to the Double-Double," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Splendour of the Seas will complete all scheduled open deployment, and no sailings will be altered or disrupted due to the sale. The ship's final sailing will commence on April 4, 2016, and all officers and crew will remain with the company and will be transferred to other vessels worldwide after the ship leaves the Royal Caribbean International fleet.

Splendour of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean International fleet in 1996, and was built by Chantier's de L'Atlantique, now STX France, in St. Nazaire, France. The 69,130-ton ship carries 1,830 guests (double occupancy) and 760 crew.

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